Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Baez and Victorino in Action at Riverview

Shane Victorino (calf strain) singled twice and doubled and Javy Baez (thumb contusion) belted an RBI double and scored a run in Minor League Camp intrasquad game action this morning at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ. 

The game on Field #5 was called after 5-1/2 innings, and the game on Field #6 was stopped after 7-1/2 innings of play. 

The game on Field #5 started and ended before the game on Field #6, allowing Victorino to move between the four teams and the two fields and collect a total of five Plate Appearances (P-2, 2B, 1B, 1B, E-4). He also stole a base and was caught stealing.

Baez played LF for two innings in the game on Field #6 and batted three times, once in each of the first three innings. He belted a double off the LF fence and scored in the 1st, flied out to the warning track in LF in the 2nd (a 12-pitch AB), and was hit on the helmet in his third PA (but left the field under his own power).

The #4 starters for the four Cubs full-season affiliates (Pierce Johnson, Tyler Skulina, Erick Leal, and Carson Sands) were the starting pitchers in the two games. The four were left behind to get their scheduled work when their teammates left town yesterday.      

In Minor League Camp roster news, C Erick Castillo was moved-up to Myrtle Beach from Eugene/Mesa (Extended Spring Training) and OF Trey Martin was sent to Extended Spring Training (injury rehab) from Myrtle Beach, 1B-OF Kelly Dugan and RHP Cole Brocker were moved-down to Extended Spring Training from AA Tennessee, and RHP Pedro Araujo, RHP Kyle Miller, LHP Jose Paulino, LHP Tyler Peitzmeier, and RHP Alexander Santana were moved-down to Extended Spring Training from South Bend.  

A total of 15 players have arrived at Minor League Camp from the Cubs Dominican Academy over the past few days, including INF Aramis Ademan, INF Jhonny Bethencourt, RHP Hector Garcia, OF Jose Gonzalez, RHP Jose Leidenz, 3B Rafael Mejia, SS Rafael Narea, LHP Pablo Ochoa, LHP Eugenio Palma, SS-2B Yeiler Peguero, SS Yonathan Perlaza, OF Ruben Reyes, OF Abraham Rodriguez, RHP Andri Rondon, and OF Jonathan Sierra, and they will be participating in Cubs Extended Spring Training.     

Here are the box scores from the two games: 


FIELD #5

SQUAD "A" LINEUP
X. Shane Victorino, DH: 1-2 (P-2, 2B, R)
NOTE: Victorino led-off the top of the 3rd and top of the 4th innings
1. Luis Ayala, CF: 0-3 (K, K, L-6)
2. Rafael Narea, SS: 1-2 (BB, 2B, K, R, RBI)
3. Chris Pieters, 1B: 1-2 (1B, F-9)
4. Ricardo Marcano, 3B: 0-2 (4-6-3 DP, K)
5. Edgar Rondon, 2B: 1-2 (2B, F-8, R, SB)
6. Eric Gonzalez, LF: 0-3 (K, F-9)
7. Marcus Mastrobuoni, C-DH 0-2 (K, K)
8. Ruben Reyes, RF: 0-2 (F-7, 4-3)
9. Tyler Pearson, DH-C: 0-2 (F-8, P-3)

SQUAD "B" LINEUP
X. Shane Victorino, DH: 1-1 (1B, SB)
NOTE: Victorino batted 4th in the bottom of the 5th inning
1. Jose Gonzalez, CF: 1-3 (1B, E-3, F-9) 
2. Yonathan Perlaza, SS: 1-3 (K, K, 3B, R)
3. Yohan Matos, LF: 1-2 (P-3 DP, F-7 SF, 1B, 2 RBI)
4. Kevin Zamudio, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, L-4, K)
5. Rafael Mejia, 3B: 1-3 (1B, F-9, K)
6. Kwang-Min Kwon, RF: 0-2 (K, BB, K)
7. Gustavo Polanco, C-DH: 0-2 (4-3, 6-4 FC, R)
8. Miguel Amaya, DH-C: 0-0 (BB, BB, R)
9. Yeiler Peguero, 2B: 2-2 (1B, 1B, RBI)

SQUAD "A" PITCHERS
Pierce Johnson: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 6 K, 2 WP, 2/6 GO/AO, 95 pitches (57 strikes) 

SQUAD "B" PITCHERS
Erick Leal: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 2/8 GO/AO, 82 pitches (55 strikes) 

SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1 
1B Chris Pieters: E-3 (two-base fielding error allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely)

SQUAD "B" ERRORS: NONE 

SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE
Gustavo Polanco: 1 PB

FIELD #6

SQUAD "C" LINEUP
X-1. Javier Baez, LF: 1-2 (2B, F-7, HBP, R, RBI)
NOTE: Baez batted 3rd in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd innings 
X-2 Aramis Ademan, PR: NO AB
NOTE: Ademan ran for Baez in the 3rd after HBP 
1. Robert Garcia, CF: 1-4 (K, 4-3,1B, F-9, RBI, SB)
2. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 2-4 (1B, 2B, K, 4-3, R)
3. Ricardo Marcano, DH-LF: 0-2 (F-9, K, BB)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER 
4. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 0-4 (5-3, 5-3, F-8, E-6)
5. Alex Bautista, RF: 1-4 (1B, K, K, 4-6-3 DP, RBI)
6. Alberto Mineo, 1B: 1-4 (3-U, 2B, 4-3, 5-3)
7. Vimael Machin, 2B: 0-1 (BB, BB, 6-3)
8. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-2 (6-4-3 DP, 5-4 FC, BB)
9. Abraham Rodriguez, DH #2: 1-2 (BB, 3B, 6-3, R, CS)

SQUAD "D" LINEUP
X. Shane Victorino, DH: 1-2 (1B, E-4, CS)
NOTE: Victorino led-off bottom of the 1st and 2nd innings
1. Roberto Caro, CF: 1-3 (F-7, 3B, 1-3, BB)
2. Jhonny Bethencourt, SS: 1-4 (F-7, K, 2B, F-8)
3. Kevonte Mitchell, RF: 0-3 (K, F-9, 3-U, BB, CS)
4. Kelly Dugan 1B: 0-2 (BB, 3-1, 3-U, BB, R, SB)
5. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-3 (BB, F-8, F-8, 2B, RBI)
6. Michael Foster, LF: 2-3 (1B, 1B, BB, F-9 DP)
7. Sutton Whiting, 2B: 0-3 (4-3 DP, E-3, K)
8. Tyler Payne, C: 0-2 (L-8, BB, K)

SQUAD ":C" PITCHERS
1. Carson Sands: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 3 WP, 4/6 GO/AO, 88 pitches (47 strikes) 
2. Junior Marte: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 0/2 GO/AO, 43 pitches (18 strikes)

SQUAD "D" PITCHERS
1. Tyler Skulina: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 6/1 GO/AO, 88 pitches (54 strikes) 
2. Jose Paulino: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 6/2 GO/AO, 42 pitches (27 strikes) 

SQUAD "C" ERRORS: 2 
1. 2B Vimael Machin: E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 1B Alberto Mineo: E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

SQUAD "D" ERRORS: 1
SS Jhonny Bethancourt: E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

SQUAD "C" CATCHERS DEFENSE
Jhonny Pereda: 2-3 CS 

SQUAD "D" CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Tyler Payne: 1-2 CS 

SQUAD "C" OUTFIELD ASSISTS
RF Alex Bautista - runner doubled off 2nd base 9-6 

ATTENDANCE: 18 

WEATHER: Sunny with temperarures in the 80's 

Comments

Thanks for the update! Are any of those Dominican players especially heralded or potential-laden to your knowledge?

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

Ademan, Perlaza and Sierra were all big money signings this summer. Peguero and Mejia had nice seasons as 17-year-olds last year in the DSL. Bethancourt was the Cubs best hitter in the VSL as an 18-year-old (still his 1st season in the league). I believe Narea was the Cubs highest paid IFA signee in 2014 when they were restricted to no more than $250,000 per player.

[ ]

In reply to by K Dub

Unlike the 2013-14 International Signing Period when the Cubs signed the consensus top two IFA players (OF Eloy Jimenez and SS Gleyber Torres), the Cubs did not sign any Baseball America Top 10 rated IFA in this signing period. 

However, OF Eddy Julio Martinez ($3M signing bonus) was rated one of the Top 5 Cuban prospects, and, SS Aramis Ademan ($2M bonus) , SS Yonathan Perlaza, and C Miguel Amaya ($1.2M bonus) were rated in the Top 25 (not including Cuba), and OF Jonathan Sierra (who got a $2.5M bonus) and RHP Jose Albertos ($1.5M bonus) were not rated in the BA Top 25. 

Phil, do you have a feel for who will be the fifth starters at Myrtle, and South Bend? Is Myrtle going with Hedges again, and if so does he have any velocity or big-league potential, or mostly just a rotation filler? Or are they going with one of the finesse lefties, Ihrig or Thorpe or one of those type guys? Is Ryan McNeil clearly going to be used in relief, or is there a chance they might give him a crack at rotation this year? (He had a lot of regularly scheduled 2-3 innings outings last year, a little long for a reliever, so I wondered whether last year was a controlled-usage year post-surgery, but this year they might give him a look in rotation?) I've kind of forgotten about Maples; was he hurt for part of last year, or just XST to try to get his delivery/control improved? Hard to fix a wild man, but he's certainly got enough arm if somehow they did. He and McNeil might both be interesting relief arms at Myrtle, guys who might surprise and pop. Any idea what's up with Jeremy Null, and how far behind he is? Surprised at Supelveda skipping to south Bend. Is he very interesting as a major-league prospect? Strictly a singles hitter, or does he have some snap in BP or a frame that looks like it could add power? strictly a utility guy, or does he have some flash with the glove and agility that might be conducive to SS? I thought Paulino would likely make South Bend. Does he look like the next-in-line, other than Cease? I'm imagining a scenario where Preston Morrison handles South Bend pretty easily, and get bumped to Myrtle in late May, then Cease or Paulino being promotion candidates. Or, perhaps if Kellog also pitched well, and both Kellogg and MOrrision got bumped up, then perhaps both Cease and Paulino would go to South Bend?

[ ]

In reply to by craig

CRAIG: Good to hear from you! 

Jeremy Null was slowed a bit with arm fatigue during Minor League Camp and could not get stretched-out in time for the start of regular season, which is why he was left behind at EXST. I would presume once he is stretched-out he will be the #5 starter at Myrtle Beach.  

In the meantime, Zach Hedges was moved back into the Myrtle Beach rotation toward the end of Minor League Camp, although I suspect his eventual role will be as a "piggy-backer" and #6 (emergency) starter. Hedges' stuff is not exceptional, and I'm not sure how far he will get beyond Hi-A.  It's possible that Thorpe could replace Hedges as a rotation starter, because Thorpe is essentially a left-handed version of Hedges.   

Ryan McNeil's velocity is back but his command comes & goes, and so I believe he will be used as a low-leverage reliever for a while longer. I think the Cubs would very much like McNeil to return to the starting rotation as he was pre-TJS, but for now he's primed as a two-inning reliever. 

Tyler Ihrig is sort of a younger version of Jeffry Antigua, the kind of pitcher who can throw just about every day and pitch multiple innings when needed. He has that "Bugs Bunny" slow curve that takes forever to get to the plate. He moved around the organization last year, and probably will again (Have Left Arm, Wil Travel). I see him as a future pitching coach  

Dillon Maples has a 94 MPH fastball and a hammer curve that he uses as a chase pitch, but he sometimes loses confidence in his fastball because there is no decption with it, and then if he does get hit, he starts throwing the heater high & outside and he walks the world. His velocity has not increased or decreased since the first time I saw him four years ago, and his curve is a real wipeout pitch (and always has been)... IF HE CAN SET IT UP BY COMMANDING HIS FASTBALL.  

Actually, I was a bit surprised that Kellogg and Morrison were moved so quickly down to South Bend, because they both started Minor League Camp with the AA Tennessee group and appeared headed for Mytrle Beach. That said, both had a couple of very good outings and a couple of very bad outings, and given the fact that both were just drafted last year, I guess I can see why they are beginning the season at South Bend rather than at Myrtle Beach. Also, although Kellogg went to Arizona State, he is from Canada (he pitched for the Team Canada junior team), and so he probably can handle Midwest Aprils better than the others in the rotation. 

As for the South Bend rotation, it should be Morrison-Steele-Alzolay-Sands-Kellogg (at least that's the way it was the last week of Minor League Camp) with Twomey and Bloomquist stretched-out as starters but likely working as "piggy-backers." However, either Twomey or Bloomquist could get moved into the rotation sooner rather than later. I don't think the Cubs are in any hurry to bring Oscar de la Cruz up to South Bend, because he isn't even throwing bullpens right now (although Underwood is). 

Jose Paulino was outstanding in the intrasquad game yesterday at Riverview, with the hard breaking ball and 92-94 MPH fastball with movement on full display. With Paulino it's all about command (which comes & goes), and the Cubs had moved him to the bullpen while he was with the South Bend group last month, but it looks like he's getting stretched-out now that he's been left behind in Mesa. Paulino was the last cut from the South Bend staff and thus could be the first in line to get moved-up. 

As you know, the Cubs have gone heavy into Mexico over the laast 18 months, and Carlos Sepulveda was the first Mexican position player they signed in the 2014-15 IFA. He was the #1 overall pick in the Mexican Pacific League Draft post-2014, but gave up a chance to play winter ball in Hermosillo to sign with the Cubs. Once he got to Mesa, the Cubs found out he had a stronger arm than might be expected from a 2nd baseman, and so he got reps at shortstop as well, but his best position (by far) is 2B.  He is a very smart player (high "baseball IQ") , sort of an Albert Almora type. Very mature, high-motor, fundamentally sound, has a plan when he comes to bat, makes the savvy play on defense, and runs the bases very well (although he has just average speed). You would never know he is 19.   

Attention Parachatters: The sounds function has returned. (Sent sound: Thunder!) And the ads are gone! Enjoy.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.